As traditional bank branches fall victim to increasingly popular smartphone apps, Columbus’ largest bank is growing its brick-and-mortar footprint.

Though Huntington National Bank executives are putting more emphasis on online and mobile technology, the company managed to also grow its six-state network of branches during the first quarter, to 733 from 715 at year-end 2014, according to its recent quarterly earnings report.

Meanwhile, the country’s banks and thrifts collectively eliminated 332 branches during the first three months of 2015, reports SNL Financial, as mobile banking became more widespread.

“We like the business a lot, we find it very, very significant,” CEO Steve Steinour told me. “They’re about twice as productive.”

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Central Ohio’s second-largest bank by deposits and branches, was among the country’s most-active branch closers in the first quarter, eliminating 31 across its footprint and finishing with 5,616 branches, according to SNL.

That’s no surprise, as Chase (NYSE:JPM) executives recently outlined plans to trim 300 branches by the end of 2016 after use of its mobile app grew 20 percent in 2014 to 19 million users.